India, Somalia Fill Gap In Import Of Sacrificial Animals

The prices of the animals in Dubai’s Al Ghusais market have been kept in balance this year despite lack of imports from traditional sources of Pakistan, Iran and Sudan.

The Gulf Today visited the area yesterday and found the prices of goats and sheep ranging from Dhs450 to Dhs2,200 depending on the weight and country of origin.

Most goats from Somalia which are small weighing about 10kg were priced between Dhs450 to Dhs700 while those from Indian side of Kashmir ranged from Dhs450 to Dhs2,200 (36kg).

“The customers are medium. I cannot say they are few or too many,” said Shehrazad S. Next to his stall was Riaz K whose animals went for between Dhs440 and Dhs1,500.

“We have not got animals from Pakistan, Iran and Sudan but India, Somalia and Arabi – with that I mean some from Saudi Arabia – have helped close the gap,” the Principal Markets Inspector at Markets Management Section of Property Department, Yousif Ateeq Khamis, told The Gulf Today.
The cows are from Somalia only and range from a minimum of Dhs500 to a maximum of Dhs5,500. The buyers such as Rafiq Ahmad came from as far as Sharjah “because here the choice is wide.” Rafiq said the prices “are reasonable.”

The Gulf Today